Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-09-11

June had only just begun. There
was fourth girl coming in shortly
Lady Margaret was still in the school.
room, though fully entitled to be
emancipated, and she was a spirited
young lady who might be more diff
cult to control than all her prede-
cessors.
"What is he like, Jerry? l mean
the city man that every one is talking
about. l know mamma thinks you
have captivated him. You might
bring him up to the school-room fol
my inspection some day. Pretend
you want to show him your drawings.
II should like to see a stock broker
His name has very fish-like smell.
Fancy being Lady Geraldine Codd
Does he look like gentleman? Don't
you think you had better turn him
over to me, Jerry?"
Here the lively Lady Margaret be-
gan dancing about the room. "Shan't
| have a fine time of it when / come
out | mean to make up for being
kept back year. You see you must
be out of the way, Jerry. You are SC
very good-looking."
Lady Geraldine answered smilings
''Do be sensible, Maggie, and I'll tell
you all about Mr.. Optmus Codd. Well
he's rather fat, and not got any par.
ticular expression, but | think he's
very good-natured. l really think
like him, and if" A lovely blush
rose to her face.
'If you hadn't fallen in love with
some one else, and if you were quite
sure Mr.. Optimus Codd didn't want to
marry you. Don't you be the least bit
gracious to him or he'll say you gave
him encouragement. They always dc
if you are polite. But, Geraldine, |
advise you to give up Rupert Paulet.
He has got next to nothing, and you
can't marry on love ?"
Lady Geraldine tossed up her pretty
head. "You mind your own business,
Maggie. You're very disagreeable
and shan't tell you anything more
about any one l meet"
In due course of time Mr.. Codd did
come to the schoolroom to inspect
Geraldine's drawings. Lady Margaret
and an antiquated German governess
were reading aloud.
81 hope we are not interrupting.
Mr.. Codd is very anxious to see my
sketches, Fraulein. This is my sister
Mr.. Codd."
"How do you do, Mr.. Codd? 'Tis
very kind of you to come up here
Geraldine has told me all about you
You have such lovely house and
beautiful pictures, and such nice things
to eat. | am not out, or l should like
TO come and see it all"
Mr.. Codd murmured something
vague about next year.
Gerry is very kind to me, you
know, although she will not make haste
and get married. If l want particular
ly to see any of her admirers-you dc
| admire her, of course, or you would
not come 50 often-she always man
ages to bring them upstairs. Now
Rupert Paulet and | are great friends
isn't he a dear boy? And Lore
Strathnellan was very nice, too, til
Geraldine refused him and ht
went off to America, and has
been shooting bears ever since
You know | mustn't come down
stairs to the drawing-room, or bt
inspected by any young men before
my hour has struck. Mamma woulC
faint if l made myself known prema
turely. am to burst suddenly on the
fashionable world. Do you admire
mamma? Don't you think her clever
Oh, you would say she is clever if yor
knew my sisters Letitia and Her
mione. They are both very stupid anC
not particularly good-looking-Jerry
and l are the best OF the lot-yet they
both married well, and Letitia is {
Marchioness. Mamma managed i
all. You can't think how dull anC
pompous my brother-inlaw Slatefort
is! l don't think | should care to bt
a Marchioness.
Mr.. Codd appeared much amused
by this girlish chatter. The outspoker
Lady Margaret had charming pi
quante face that made people fee
young to look at. Lady Geraldine an(
the governess returned from the ad
joining room with portfolios to fine
Mr.. Codd and Lady Margaret on the
best of terms.
Mr.. Codd had had no previous con
ception that aristocratic lips were evel
frank and ingenious, though he was
of course, aware the humanity OF {
lower degree is candid to painful
degree.
After three weeks or so, Lady Um
freville began to think it time for Mr.
Codd to make up his mind. Why die
he not propose to Geraldine?
The preliminaries had gone ON Ions
enough, and the worlds eyes were
beginning to fix curiously on the pair
Lady Umfreville had monopolized the
wealthy stockholders too fully tc
escape calumny. The Countess
thought it might be expedient to give
the backward suitor gentle push
The honor intended for him might
seem too great. In q secluded corner
at garden party she opened fire.
"You are evidently not marrying
man, Mr.. Codd," she said, playfully.
GLOW can you resist the lovely girls
you meet daily?"
Mr.. Codd cast sharp glance at the
lady's smiling face.
"My thoughts have been always
given to other matters-more prosaic
things, Lady Umfreville. Till lately
the idea of matrimony never entered
my head"
"Ah, then suppose you have begun
to think of it. Indeed, man of your
position-of your wealth and influ-
ence, owes this duty to society. OF
course, you are entitled to look for
birth and beauty, and 1 feel sure that
any well brought-up, right-minded
girl will appreciate your sterling quail
ties. have no son Of my own, you
know with sigh, but l assure you,
Mr.. Good, feel quite maternal in
terest in your welfare"
This was rather more than neces-
sary. Mr.. Codd's little eyes sparkled.
"Pray cease, Lady Unfreville. l
am not man to rate my own merits
beneath their worth, but | cannot al
low you to speak in these terms"
sT hoya thOI1Uht Mr. COdd - com